Fire-hose wrench.



3 74mm PATENT-ED OCT. 13, 1903.

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FIRE msfi WRENCH;

LPPLIUATI'QR EIZKBD FEB. 5, 1903.

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NITED STATES Patented October 13, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE NORMAN THOMPSON, OF BELMOND, IOWA.

FIRE-HOSE WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 741,082, dated October 13, 1903.

Application filed February 5, 1903. erial No. 142,029. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Beit knownthatLGnoRGENonMANTHoMP- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Belmond, in thecounty of Wright and State of Iowa, have invented certain new-and useful Improvements in Fire-Hose Wrenches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention provides a wrenchor'spanvner of novel form specially designed to facilitate the work of coupling and uncoupling fire-hose and to obviate the loss of time frequently occurring by the use of the ordinary wrench.

A tool constructed in accordance with the present invention can be instantly applied tov the coupling and will admit of rotating the same in either direction and obviate the necessity for disconnecting the wrench from the coupling at each half-turn, as required by the wrench in general use.

The present invention contemplates a rigid jaw and a pivoted jaw, each of the jaws being provided with openings for reception of the studs projected from opposite sides of the hose-coupling, the tool being operated by means of a handle preferably forming a part of the rigid jaw, a spring being interposed between the two jaws to normally hold them closed and in positive engagement with the coupling after being fitted thereto.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for eifecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of a wrench or spanner embodying the invention. Fig. 2 isa side View, parts being broken away, showing the wrench fitted to a coupling and the dotted lines indicating the position of the pivoted jaw when moved to a position to admit of application or disengagement 0f the tool from the hose-pipe coupling.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The wrench comprises the fixed jaw l and movable or pivoted jaw 2, the said jaws curving symmetrically in opposite directions and provided near their free ends with openings 8 for reception of the studs 4, extended from opposite sides of the hose-pipe coupling 5. Theterminal portions of the jaws are cut away upon their inner faces, as shown at 6, to enable the tool to be readily fitted to the coupling by simply pressing forward thereon, the cut-away ends 6 riding upon the ends of the studs 4i and snapping thereover when the opening 3 registers therewith. The cut-away portions of the jaws being disposed intermediate the sides thereof serve to direct the studs toward the openings upon the said jaws forming, after a manner, guideways. In so disposing the cut-away portions of the jaws, which are designated 10 and 10 of the respective jaws l and 2 liability of misapplication of the jaws to the coupling is obviated, since the said side ports 10 and 10 serve as stops and do not permit any lateral movement of the studs when the implement is being applied. The cut away portions also taper outwardly toward the extremities of the jaws, this being advantageous, in that the studs may be more readily guided toward the openings 3.

The handle 7 is preferably an integral part of the jaw 1 and is cast therewith. The movable jaw 2 is pivoted to a lateral extension of the handle 7, the same preferably consisting of platesS, arranged upon opposite sides of the handle in parallel relation and secured thereto by rivets or in anyother substantial manner. A spring 9 is located in thespace formed between the plates 8, audits end portions exert an outward pressure upon the handle 7 and rear end of the pivoted jaw 52, so as normally to close said jaw and hold it in proper position, whereby the tool is secured upon the hose-pipe coupling against casual displacement after being properly fitted thereto. The pivoted jaw has a limited movement in each direction.

The tool is fitted to the hose-pipe coupling by placing the cut-away terminals 6 in contact with the extremities of the studs 4: and

pressing upon the tool to cause the cut-away ends 6 to ride upon the studs 4, the jaws snapping into engagement with said studs when the openings 3 thereof are in register therewith. The wrench may be turned to rotate the coupling without being disconnected from the latter and is in position for screwing or unscrewing the coupling, as may be required. To disengage the wrench from the coupling, it is necessary to press the outer end of the pivoted jaw away from the fixed jaw 3, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is- 1. A wrench for hose-pipe coupling, consisting of fixed and movable jaws, each of said jaws being provided with openings adjacent the extremities thereof, to receive the studs of the coupling, and guide means located upon the end portions of the jaws to direct the studs within the aforesaid openings on application of the implement to the coupling, substantially as described.

2. In a wrench for hose-couplings, comprising a fixed and a movable jaw, said jaws being provided with openings adjacent their ends and cut away intermediate the side portions and at the terminals thereof to provide guides for directing the studs of the coupling Within the openings upon application of the Wrench to the coupling, and spring means adapted to hold the jaws normally pressed together, substantially as set forth.

3. A hose-pipe coupling-wrench, consisting of a fixed and a movable jaw, spring means for pressing the jaws together at their outer ends, said jaws being provided with openings near the said ends and having their terminal portions cut away intermediate the sides thereof to form guides for directing the studs of the coupling toward said openings,said cutaway portions being outwardly tapered toward the extremities of the said jaws, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE NORMAN THOMPSON. [L. 3.]

Witnesses:

' AMBROSE O. MONTAGUE,

ALBERT L. LUIcY. 

